Early Review – Valiant by Sarah McGuire (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Fantasy
Size: 384 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: April 28, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1606845523
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: eGalley from NetGalley.com
Rating: 5/5 stars
I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. This was a very well written young adult fantasy. I really really loved this book. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed this novel.
The story is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale The Valiant Tailor with the twist that this story features a young woman named Saville. Saville’s father is a fabulous tailer who values his trade over anything, including his daughter. He decides to pick up and move to a different kingdom so that he can makes clothes the way he wants to make them (in their home kingdom he has been ridiculed for not following the law laid down by the king there). Saville is upset about leaving her life and her friends and hates tailoring with a passion. Upon their arrival in a new kingdom things go very wrong when her father has a stroke and Saville is forced to pretend to be her father’s apprentice (and a boy) to make a living. Saville is an excellent tailor and things go well for her until the giants arrive.
I have never read the original story of The Valiant Tailor, but I have heard it is not the most exciting of the Brothers Grimm works. This was a very exciting and very well written fantasy story.
I loved the fact that the “brave tailor” in this book is a girl. Saville faces many challenges and is smart and brave again and again throughout the story. She is forced to pretend to be many many different people, but never loses sight of who she is and who she wants to become.
There is a lot of action, war, and intrigue throughout the story. The main issue being dealt with is the mystery behind where the giants came from and who their leader is. It’s an entertaining and well done story. The story has a very classic fantasy feel to it, but also incorporates some great humor throughout.
The characters are fantastic and really come alive; they are very engaging and interesting. The side characters are also well done.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing fantasy retelling of The Valiant Tailor. I am very happy I picked up this book to read and would definitely recommend it to fans of classic fantasy. I would also recommend to fans of fairy tale retellings; this is a great story!
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
